When to Turn to Urgent Care

Sometimes people deal with painful injuries or sicknesses that prompt them to seek medical attention. However, the emergency room may not be the best place for them. Frankly, they are going through too much pain to sit at home and not enough pain to warrant immediate attention at the local hospital. This is where urgent care comes in. There are several examples of when the use of this service would be warranted.

When people are engaged in sports activities such as football, basketball, baseball, track, hockey or soccer, there is always the possibility of injury. Although an injury may not seem major, it could still cause great pain. For instance, if someone is tackled hard during a football scrimmage and his ankle is hurt, the pain alone would cause him to need medical assistance. Going to the emergency room, however, may not be the best idea. An urgent care facility, on the other hand, would be a wonderful place to take them.

Someone experiencing a horrible migraine may also need instant medical attention. Sometimes migraines cause excessive amounts of pain that prevent a person from doing everyday activities such as cooking, cleaning, or watching television. It can also cause vision problems, especially when dealing with light. Sleeping the headache off often doesn't work for some. A trip to an urgent care center would be the best thing. However, if they are having trouble seeing, it is best to have someone take them. They may also be able to call one of the facilities to see if they provide transportation services.

Stomach viruses can also prove painful as well as uncomfortable and inconvenient. Although someone would be correct in seeking medical help, the emergency department is probably not the best place to seek it. In emergency rooms there are usually people with extreme injuries and sicknesses who would require more attention than a stomach virus patient. This can also go for other uncomfortable sicknesses such as the flu or excessive heartburn.

Children can also benefit from these facilities. Many times, without realizing it, kids involve themselves in dangerous activities that can cause them great harm. For example, a child could be playing near a sharp object, run into it and get a big cut on one of their body parts. Although the cut may not be very large, it could cause the child great pain. Sometimes, parents aren't really capable of properly dealing with such issues. All of their best efforts could fall short. Professionals at an urgent care center would properly treat the cut and relieve the pain.

Urgent care centers work as a convenient middle-man between the regular doctor's office and the hospital emergency room. Along with welcoming patients with open arms, the facilities are also properly equipped to care for their potential clients. Competent medical professionals are on hand ready to help where needed.